Georges Fenech, president of MIVILUDES (Interministerial Mission of Vigilance and Combat against Sectarian Abuses), believes that "going forward, Scientology's days are numbered in France."

In a statement to AFP on Thursday, Mr. Fenech qualified as "historic" the decision rendered Thursday morning by the Paris court of appeal, which "clearly condemned Scientology's fraud."

The court confirmed the respective fines of 400,000 and 200,000 euros that were imposed on Scientology's two Parisian entities, the Celebrity Centre and the SEL bookstore.

The Paris court of appeal also confirmed or increased the sentences handed down in 2009 to five Scientologists.

"In France," Mr. Fenech added, "We can can consider that Scientology, which is a church only in name, has its days numbered.

In the event of a subsequent conviction, it will almost automatically incur dissolution."

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